Visakhapatnam: HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Thursday said that the state government has allocated land to nine private universities and entered into MoUs with another eight during the recently concluded Partnership Summit-2017 as per the Private Universities’ Act.

Mr Srinivasa Rao was speaking at a press meet organised after a meeting with the representatives of the FICCI to draft a new Model Education Code for the private schools.

“We have introduced vocational training in 126 model schools in the state on a pilot basis. This will help the students equip “themselves with the right set of skills and give them a head-start in their careers. We will soon introduce a new sports policy and give weightage in academics for achievements in sports. Besides conducting all the common entrance tests in online mode, we have conducted practical examinations in the jumbling system for the first time this year. We will train 1 lakh youth of the state in the next three years,” said Mr Srinivasa Rao.

The minister said that education cities will come up in Tirupati and Sabbavaram of Vizag district in 1,000 acres in each city. “Allotting Rs 21,500 crore to the education sector shows the commitment of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu towards the education sector. Mock tests for the online common entrance tests will be available from February 15. Apps will also be developed to help the students from rural background attempt these CETS,” he said.

Later, Mr Srinivasa Rao inaugurated the historic TLN Sabha Hall in Andhra University campus. He laid the foundation stone for the proposed hospital block in the south campus. He also launched the JC Bose Block in the ECE department on Thursday.